The Seahawks may get a key piece of their defense back in time for Week 4, but Julian Love’s calf issue still makes him a player to monitor closely.
Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Wednesday that Love would practice, while fellow safety Ty Okada would not. Earlier in the week, Macdonald had suggested Love might be able to return to the field for practice on Wednesday after sitting out ahead of Week 3.
Love did not practice at all before Seattle’s loss to the Washington Commanders, and his absence was felt. AJ Finley stepped in, but there’s no mistaking the difference between Finley and one of the league’s most underrated safeties.
Okada remains out with a hamstring issue and has missed the first three games of the season with no timeline for a return. He was not placed on injured reserve, which makes his continued absence even more notable. This was the week many expected him to be back.
For Love, the key now is how much he can do once practice gets rolling. He is expected to be limited on Wednesday, and that could carry into Thursday as well. The Seahawks won’t have a clear read on his status until he gets through a full practice.
Before the injury, Love had intercepted passes in three straight games. His impact goes beyond the takeaway numbers, though.
He handles the communication on the back end, sets the alignment, and gives Seattle a steadying presence. The role he fills is similar to what Quandre Diggs brought for several seasons at the start of the decade, only a notch better.
Love is strong against the run, elite in coverage, and one of the team’s most important voices. When he’s not on the field, Seattle loses more than just a defensive playmaker. It also loses the player who is helping organize everything from the sideline.
That matters again this week with the Los Angeles Chargers coming to Lumen Field. If Justin Herbert and the LA offense are clicking, the ball is going to move efficiently and big plays will be there.
Love on the field helps take some of that away. AJ Finley on the field does not.
If Love is still limited on Friday, that could leave him less than full strength on Sunday even if he suits up. Injuries are part of the game, but for Seattle, getting Love back at full speed would make the whole defense better.
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